Hello all! I am seriously considering getting a sidecar for a scooter.
First of all, are sidecars pretty safe? I want to get a scooter that is about 150cc. Should this be powerful enough (with a sidecar) to go about 50mph, or should I get a 200cc one instead? I used to drive a moped, but I got rid of it due to the fact that I found it to be very impractical. I've read that these things are rather unsafe (especially going around corners), but I really need to have something to get around town. I can't afford a car and there is no public transportation out here to speak of. So, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Jason Davidson
Safe? Compared to what? Not trying to be a smart ass, its just that the word 'safe' means different things to everyone. Sidecars are WAY different than motorcycles. No comparison. I've driven a Stella with a Cozy sidecar on it and it was a LOT of fun.
I think it would be cool. I have never driven a scooter rig, but I did own a Honda Silverwing scooter untill a year ago or so. Really wish I had kept it for a SC.
My only thought would be to get the biggest engine that works for you (i.e.money, size, etc). Keep in mind I have a Goldwing, so a little biased, but the SC really affects the performance.
Have fun
greg
I just got a Honda Reflex (250cc)/Texas side car rig.
It cruises nice @ 55 and keeps up well with in town traffic, but there is little reserve power.
It handles well IMO, but you MUST slow down for right handers and go slower in general than without the side car. That said, I'm still learning this side car stuff myself.
The base Reflex will do close to 80. The "150cc" scooters I have seen are chinese. The few I have ridden would be lucky to hit 60.
If they could hit 50 with a sidecar I think it would be maxed out.
I may be missing something, but if you cant swing a used car, I think putting together a decent (non-chinese) scooter/side car rig would be about as much money or maybe more.
You may save a little money on a Chinese scooter up front, but you'll pay a lot more in short order. Most of the places that sell them don't even stock light bulbs (which are not standard) or chains. Parts Unlimited and normal sources do NOT stock the weird Chinese chain sizes.
Talking purely about money- a new scooter and sidecar is going to cost more than a 10 or 15 year old Civic.
Many here know JR ( USCA State rep) and his wife Avenell. Well Avenel has a 650 Burgman with a sidecar on it and that thing flys. She broke into the triple digets with it to see if it could be done. I have had it over 70 and it was stable and predictable.
Fun to ride is putting it mildly.
I am an absolute side car noob, but I think the modern scooter CVT works very well for side car use.
I was pleasantly surprised how little acceleration was lost when I installed the car. The scooter just automatically revs a bit higher and runs in a "lower gear" during the process.
I have ridden with a Ural before and think my scooter rig has very similar on road performance.
I put a scooter sidecar (made by "Texas Sidecar") on a Honda Helix (250cc). It did all right around town but was really under powered on anything you might call a highway. In my opinion, 250cc would be an absolute minimum. Returning from The BMW MOA National, I meet a fellow riding one of the new 650cc scooters with the larger, made for a scooter cars from Texas Sidecar. We left a rest area on I-55 and ran 65 to 70 mph together for near 100 miles and his exit. The larger scooter sidecar is still a bit small, but I was impressed. It looked rock solid at speed and had a little power to spare. His stated mpg was near half-again better than mine. Sold my Helix scooter years back, but thinking I made need a new (600+ cc) one. Danny
K1100LT/EZS
R1100GS/Ural
Definately go for a higher cc.engine although you can run all day long with less it is nice to have a little in reserve when pulling a sidecar
Definetely 250cc is minimum.150cc is bound to crawl and break down very fast. My brothers in law 500ccm scooter would work for your needs: Go better with 4 stroke and gearbox not belt automatic.
Funny thing with scooters: The SC frame may be a simple 4" tube screwed to the Scooters basement as Vespa did earlier.
Chineese NO WAY! Japaneese why not! Just had to fix my customs brookers work horse from China (single scooter 200ccm) 23000km and the stearing bearings upper cup was broken off. Beside many other safety related "flaws" (real understatement)
Don't think a SC-rig is a cheapy in gas consume. Everyting bigger then my 350 Jawa takes double or more. (actually i have typically 4,2 liters per 100km = 56 mi/gal but my former 250 MZ in flat northern Germany took 9-11 l/100km = 26-21mi/gal)
But you definetely will enjoy the rig as long as transit is not too dense, so that you cannot pass by on the outside. (then i often lift the SC wheel on the walkway, but way too often I get stuck as a car)
Regards
Sven Peter Pan
